Saffron Trail Stage 4 – Great Waltham to Chelmer Village
Type: Walk
Duration: 8h - 1d
Facilities
Routes
- Length of route (miles) - 9
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About
The fourth stretch of the Saffron Trail is nine miles long. The walk starts from Great Waltham and finishes at Chelmer Village, by the River Chelmer.
Much of this trail is defined by the rivers Can and Chelmer, which meet at the entrance to Chelmsford’s Admirals Park.
The Saffron Trail stretches 70 miles in total from Saffron Walden to Southend, passing through five county districts: Uttlesford, Chelmsford, Rochford, Castle Point and Southend.
Along this fourth section, the Chelmer offers walkers the opportunity to carry a packraft, which can be launched to explore inaccessible parts of Chelmsford’s riverbank. The trail here is dominated by the River Chelmer, but other places of interest include the round tower church of St Mary with Leonard Church and the farmland and hedgerows that bank up from the river.
The highlight is the fabulous river walk into, through and out of Chelmsford City. The contrast experienced walking from countryside into city, and then city out into countryside again, is strangely liberating and good fun.
Look out for roach, perch and bream swimming the Can and Chelmer.
Please see below some of the highlights and coordinates along the route.
Content provided by Stephen Neale
Facilities
Accessibility
- Disabled toilets - Market Road, Chelmsford, Cm1 1XA Riverside Leisure Centre, Victoria Rd, Chelmsford CM1 1FG
Catering
- On-site catering - There is 24hr catering in Chelmsford and limited catering along others part of the trail
- On-site light refreshments - There is 24hr catering in Chelmsford and limited catering along others part of the trail
- Picnic site - All along the trail
Parking
- Free Parking - Limited off-street parking around Chelmsford and other villages and towns along the trail.
- Parking with charge - Numerous public car parks in Chelmsford
Property Facilities
- Public toilets - • Admirals Park, Chelmsford, Near footbridge from Admirals Park to West Park (51.738620, 0.453184) • Central Park, Behind park café (51.732778, 0.464487) • Market Road, Chelmsford, Cm1 1XA • Riverside Leisure Centre, Victoria Rd, Chelmsford CM1 1FG
Routes
- Accessibility of route - Urban parts of trail around the towns and villages of Chelmsford are suitable for wheelchairs/pushchairs. Other parts of the trail are not suitable. The terrain is generally flat but can get very muddy in winter. There are some steps and stiles.
- Countryside - Yes but some urban.
- Length of route (miles) - 9
- Linear Route
- Long Distance Path
- Typical duration of route - 1 day (8 hours)
Suitability
- Dog Owners - Suitable for dogs but must be kept on leads most of the time
- Families
Map & Directions
- START/END:– St Mary and St Lawrence Great Waltham Church Great Waltham, Chelmsford Rd, Chelmsford, CM3 1AR
- Broomfield – listen for buzzards mewing over former grounds of Broomfield Hall.
- St Mary With Leonard Church – touch the 1,000-year-old south wall, made up of flint, Roman bricks and puddingstone. The marker stones are likely indicators of a pre-Christian site, and a wooden Saxon church. St Mary is one of Essex’s six round tower churches.
- Stacey’s Farm – picnic in the hedgerows before harvest time.
- Rivers Can and Chelmer – sit and watch roach, perch and bream feed on the surface of the water, where the rivers Can and Chelmer meet. Kingfishers here too.
- Admiral’s Park – feel the contrast of urban and rural sprawl… walk 1.5 miles of Chelmer riverbank through the park, into the city centre and out into the countryside the other side
- Sandford Mill Bridge and lock – launch a packraft… or have a picnic while watching the river traffic
- Chelmer / A12 bridge – shelter from sun and rain under the largest, most colourful roof canopy on the trail 51.730972, 0.523318
- START/END:– Under A12 bridge, River Chelmer, Chelmer Village
Along This Route
This park is in the centre of the city and offers visitors the opportunity to relax and…
A beautiful town centre park leading into Tower Gardens and West Park, Admirals is one of…
Chelmsford Museum will take you through Chelmsford's history, from the Ice Age, right…
This 15th century building, with perpendicular architecture, is light, spacious and…
Along This Route
This park is in the centre of the city and offers visitors the opportunity to relax and…
A beautiful town centre park leading into Tower Gardens and West Park, Admirals is one of…
Chelmsford Museum will take you through Chelmsford's history, from the Ice Age, right…
This 15th century building, with perpendicular architecture, is light, spacious and…
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